What do you think of Santa giving this gift?

Question

My girlfriend's daughter is a brat--plain and simple. I have tried to get the message across to her that for eveyone's sake she had to do something.

I was out doing Christmas shopping and in this gift shop saw this little paddle with the words "Heat for the Seat" written on it and a cartoon pic of a kid bending over with a red rear.

I had a moment of ephiphany. I recalled the legend that Santa has been known to deliver a bag a coal and a bundle of switches to naughty kids (in fact I have mentioned this to my own a couple of times).

So I bought the paddle and plan on wrapping it up as a gift from Santa. In Hallmark they had these tiny bags of coal to give as a joke --so I am going to include that.

I also bought a nice gift.

I am very close with my gf. She knows how I feel. She feels spanking would be a good idea--but is a waffler. Whether she does or not I want to send a serious message there needs to me discipline in a funny way.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Personally, I'd be very offended and it might be the end of the friendship if you let my child unwrap something like that. I think it's inappropriate.

Answer 2

LOL, now that's funny.

However I hope your friendship is tight enough that she can see the humor, or better yet get the message. Women can get quite snippy at such messages. I doubt she will actually use it, but who knows. I'd be careful if you value the friendship. Then again I find it hard to maintain friendships with people who let there kids run wild.

We do our share of spanking, but don't use a paddle, I understand others do for religious/personal reasons. Every parent has there own ways of doing things, so I don't think it's wrong to use a paddle. You can never argue with results, that's what's important. Ideally, next year that paddle will be worn out, but you know her better then me. You just have to ask yourself if this is a ideal situation. I don't want you to lose a friendship you might value

Good Luck

Answer 3

I think it's horribly rude. You will never win someone's heart or their respect by being so cruel on Christmas day. You'd be better off living in the child's life daily and setting a good example through modeling better behavior. Don't let her get away with stuff with YOU, but you have no right to push a disciplining technique on a child who is not yours.

Give her the nice gift and become someone she looks up to. Maybe mom doesn't really think spanking is a good idea, but sounds like a waffler to get you off her back.

Answer 4

For you, Santa does not really exist yet still does exist (weird huh). Think of the impossible task of trying to reach to 6 billion people on earth. Well, minus china, India, middle east, north Africa, then it comes to around 500 million. Given this maybe 10% are children then you are looking at 50 million. So this means that Santa has to travel to so many homes around the world in a single night, which theoretically is impossible. If you want me to get into the physics of travel (700 miles per second) I will elaborate to you further. Yet, lets dispense with a novel "Pay it forward" using chaos, and probable theory. Now you must have heard that a butterfly flapping its wings over japan can cause a thunderstorm in California. Lets think of Santa as the butterfly and what happens if he would give one gift to a person somewhere in Japan say 200 years ago on December 25 (do not get into God of Mithra, Pagan holiday, Lunar Equinox scenarios) and say that this occurrence triggered the event we call Christmas. He is real to an 8 year old child, but is oblivious to the well agnostic or say atheist crowd. Or better, like in "if you build it he will come" (Field of Dreams) scenario, he exists in the minds who want him to exist. So he does exist, but not really given your definition from the above.

Answer 5

The Brat doesn't realize she's a Brat, and is only concerned with her feelings. Someone made her that way, so it is not ALL her fault. Do not be to angry at the Brat without considering she had a creator, and think of her anticipation and love for Christmas. By the way, the hint needs to be given SOLELY to the mom who is supposed to be in control.....but leave the discipline up to the mom, anyway---until perhaps you become a step-parent.

Answer 6

I think it is a good idea. At least you are trying to do something to get the message through to the daughter. I personally feel that if more parents took action instead of chalking it up to them just "being Children" the kids would not be as out of control as some of them are these days. I was never spanked growing up but when my Father said for me to sit I sat and never questioned why or mouthed back and I am 48 yrs. old now and have 3 grown children and 13 grandchildren and they have all been tought to respect their elders and how to behave.

Answer 7

I have 2 children and i would be offended, its one thing to occasionally mention that her kids are hyper but its not your choice to make. I have friends with kids that are very loud but what kid isnt crazy every now and then. Even though its just a joke your friend may take it the wrong way. I would reconsider the gift and keep the paddle as a present to a man friend. heehee

Answer 8

Kids are kids. She won't get the message like intended, your g'f will be insulted no matter how close you are. A change in day to day parenting is the solution. You need to explain to your g/f that it really means a lot to you and that you care too much to allow it to continue. You need to negotiate what the mom is okay to enforce and change. You need to be the support system.... not the one passing judgement and making jabs (that will not change things). Good intentions but a better approach is needed.

Answer 9

I think at this point you are premature in giving a gift like this one. How long have you and your girlfriend been together? Do you discipline the child? Have you and your girlfriend talked of marriage and your place in the disciplining of the girl? Does she have an active dad in her life and how would he see this gift? While I think its very funny, I have a feeling the girlfriend might take exception to the slam to her way of parenting and see it as a harsh criticism. You best think long and hard about this one.

Answer 10

Depends how old the "brat" is and how good of friends you are with the mother. If she has agreed with you that her kid's alittle unruly then Yes! Bring on the gift. It would be awesome if someone would give my 3 year old that. He's been a bit bratty himself lately.

Answer 11

I think the gift is actually quite funny as long as you are close to your girlfriend and its for her not the daughter. It wouldnt be very kosher to give the child that gift and if my best friend gave my daughter something like that I would be a little upset... so save the gift for your friend. Happy Holidays!